George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and Theodore Roosevelt appear on Mount Rushmore in South Dakota, representing four of the greatest presidents in our nation's history. However, if you were to take the four best NFL players from Mississippi and put them on their own Mount Rushmore, those players would represent the greatest quartet from any state in the nation.
Jerry Rice, Brett Favre, Walter Payton and Lance Alworth all hail from Mississippi. All rank among the greatest players in NFL history, according to
Pro Football Reference's Hall of Fame Monitor ranking system. The quartet easily outdistanced the California foursome of Anthony Munoz, Tony Gonzalez, Ronnie Lott and Tom Brady for the No. 1 spot. Florida is No. 3 with Derrick Brooks, Deion Sanders, Emmitt Smith and Ray Lewis.
The Hall of Fame Monitor uses All-Pro selections, Pro Bowl selections, end-of-the-year awards, Super Bowl participation and titles and all-decade team selections to put together its ranking system. MaxPreps has put together a "Mount Rushmore" for each state based on the highest-ranking NFL players from that state.
The four players are selected based on where they went to high school, but are ranked based on their pro performance only, not their high school efforts. As a result, outstanding high school players like Herschel Walker in Georgia, Bo Jackson in Alabama and Ken Hall in Texas are not included, due to their low Hall of Fame Monitor ranking.
Pro Football Reference's tool only recognizes players who began play in 1955 or later, thus great players like Don Hutson in Arkansas, Sid Luckman in New York and Sammy Baugh in Texas are not included.
Of the top players on the Pro Football Reference list, Rice outranks all players with a score of 311.81. Payton is the No. 1 running back with 214.91 points, Favre is the No. 3 quarterback with 178.84 points and Alworth is the No. 8 wide receiver with 124.8 points. All totaled, the state of Mississippi scores 830.36 points in the rankings.
Below, we rank each of the 50 states, as well as the District of Columbia, in descending order based on their composite Hall of Fame Monitor rankings.
Brett Favre is among the four players on Mississippi's Mount Rushmore along with Lance Alworth, Walter Payton and Jerry Rice.
File photo by Richard Miller
1. Mississippi, 830.36
Lance Alworth,
Brookhaven, 124.8
Brett Favre,
Hancock (Kiln, Miss.), 178.84
Walter Payton,
Columbia, 214.91
Jerry Rice, Moor, 311.81
2. California, 777.32
Tom Brady,
Serra (San Mateo), 246.59
Tony Gonzalez,
Huntington Beach, 196.33
Ronnie Lott,
Eisenhower (Rialto), 173.75
Anthony Munoz,
Chaffey (Ontario), 160.65
3. Florida, 710.56
Derrick Brooks,
Booker T. Washington (Pensacola), 162.8
Ray Lewis,
Kathleen (Lakeland), 197.03
Deion Sanders,
North Fort Myers, 174.43
Emmitt Smith,
Escambia (Pensacola), 176.3
4. Virginia, 649.78
Kenny Easley,
Oscar Smith (Chesapeake), 110.8
Bruce Smith,
Washington (Norfolk), 211.35
Dwight Stephenson,
Hampton, 111.95
Lawrence Taylor,
Lafayette (Williamsburg), 215.68
5. Louisiana, 628.53
Marshall Faulk,
Carver Collegiate Academy (New Orleans), 112.12
Peyton Manning,
Newman (New Orleans), 258.5
Ed Reed,
Destrehan, 150.4
Reggie Wayne,
John Ehret (Marrero),107.51
6. Pennsylvania, 605.09
Jack Ham,
Bishop McCort (Johnstown), 143.7
Marvin Harrison,
Roman Catholic (Philadelphia), 147.6
Joe Montana,
Ringgold (Monongahela), 153.45
Johnny Unitas, St. Justin's (Pittsburgh), 160.34
7. Texas, 589.82
Drew Brees,
Westlake (Austin), Texas 139.59
Alan Faneca,
Lamar Consolidated (Rosenberg), 139.73
Forrest Gregg,
Sulphur Springs, 139.50
8. Ohio, 554.18
Jack Lambert,
Crestwood (Mantua), 151.65
Alan Page,
Central Catholic (Toledo), 157.1
Jim Parker,
Scott (Toledo), 121.25
9. Tennessee, 538.54
Gene Hickerson,
Trezevant (Memphis), 88.23
Reggie White,
Howard Tech (Chattanooga), 237.75
Patrick Willis,
Hollow Rock-Bruceton Central (Bruceton), 107.13
Jason Witten,
Elizabethton, 105.43
10. Alabama, 492.68
John Hannah,
Albertville, 153.1
Julio Jones,
Foley, 99.15
Walter Jones,
Aliceville, 100.6
Terrell Owens,
Benjamin Russell (Alexander City), 139.83
11. Wisconsin, 479.59
Jim Otto, Wausau, 124.78
Joe Thomas,
Brookfield Central (Brookfield), 115.58
J.J. Watt,
Pewaukee, 121.63
Mike Webster,
Rhinelander, 117.6
12. Georgia, 459.04
Champ Bailey,
Charlton County (Folkston), 106.23
Mel Blount, Lyons, 122.3
Shannon Sharpe, Glennville, 113.23
Fran Tarkenton, Athens, 117.28
13. North Carolina, 446.23
Bobby Bell,
Cleveland (Clayton), 113.38
Carl Eller,
Atkins (Winston-Salem), 108.93
Torry Holt,
Eastern Guilford (Gibsonville), 104.77
Julius Peppers,
Southern Nash (Bailey), 119.15
14. Arkansas, 429.94
Willie Davis, Booker T. Washington (Texarkana), 122.53
Dan Hampton,
Jacksonville, 86.18
Cortez Kennedy,
Rivercrest (Wilson), 103.93
Willie Roaf,
Pine Bluff, 117.3
15. New York, 427.32
Jim Brown,
Manhasset, 182.41
Butch Byrd,
La Salle Institute (Troy), 78.13
John Mackey,
Hempstead, 76.52
Art Monk,
White Plains, 90.26
16. Indiana, 411.73
Bob Griese, Rex Mundi (Evansville), 73.45
Alex Karras, Emerson (Gary), 76.2
Bob Kuechenberg,
Hobart, 74.03
Ken Anderson,
Batavia 83.49
Dick Butkus,
Chicago Vocational, 128.85
Kevin Greene, Granite City South, 96.98
Kellen Winslow,
East St. Louis, 95.96
18. Oregon, 404.23
Bob Lilly,
Pendleton, 159.2
Troy Polamalu,
Douglas (Winston), 95.73
Mel Renfro,
Jefferson (Portland), 75.95
Ndamakang Suh,
Grant (Portland), 73.35
19. Michigan, 401.92
Jerome Bettis,
Mackenzie (Detroit), 75.11
Joe DeLamielleure,
St. Clement (Center Line), 90.18
Antonio Gates,
Central (Detroit), 133.63
Paul Krause,
Bendle (Burton), 103
20. Kansas, 372.25
John Hadl,
Lawrence, 59.84
John Riggins,
Centralia, 69.96
Barry Sanders,
North (Wichita), 178.05
Darren Sproles,
Olathe North (Olathe), 64.4
21. Arizona, 361.68
Curley Culp,
Yuma, 51.9
Randall McDaniel,
Agua Fria (Avondale), 148.75
Terrell Suggs,
Hamilton (Chandler), 94.23
Darren Woodson,
Maryvale (Phoenix), 66.8
22. Oklahoma, 357.82
Troy Aikman,
Henryetta, 64.85
Steve Largent,
Putnam City (Oklahoma City), 136.39
Lee Roy Selmon,
Eufaula, 69.33
Will Shields,
Lawton, 87.25
23. Minnesota, 349.01
Matt Birk,
Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul), 51.45
Larry Fitzgerald, Academy of the Holy Angels (Minneapolis), 140.31
Karl Mecklenburg, Edina West, 62.15
24. Kentucky, 337.69
Shaun Alexander,
Boone County (Florence), 63.25
Dermontti Dawson,
Bryan Station (Lexington), 128.23
Paul Hornung, Flaget (Louisville), 69.13
Joe Jacoby,
Western (Louisville), 77.08
25. West Virginia, 331.87
Dennis Harrah, Stonewall Jackson (Charleston), 43
Chuck Howley, Warwood (Wheeling), 72.45
Sam Huff, Farmington, 66.93
Randy Moss, DuPont (Belle), 149.49
26. South Carolina, 331.34
Harry Carson, McClenaghan (Florence), 61.83
Richard Seymour,
Lower Richland (Hopkins), 96.78
Art Shell, Bonds-Wilson (North Charleston), 98.45
Donnie Shell,
Whitmire, 74.28
27. Massachusetts, 330.45
Nick Buoniconti,
Cathedral (Boston), 105.9
Howie Long,
Milford, 91.7
Tom Nalen,
Foxborough, 67.45
Walt Sweeney,
Cohasset, 65.4
28. District of Columbia, 325.38
Vernon Davis,
Dunbar, 31.87
Jonathan Ogden,
St. Albans, 102.65
Jon Morris,
Gonzaga, 48
Willie Wood, Armstrong, 130.73
29. Idaho, 324.28
Jerry Kramer,
Sandpoint, 114.75
Jake Plummer,
Capital (Boise), 32.35
Wayne Walker,
Boise, 51.75
Larry Wilson,
Rigby, 125.43
30. New Jersey, 321.25
Deron Cherry,
Palmyra, 67.4
Franco Harris,
Rancocas Valley (Mt. Holly), 96.53
Drew Pearson,
South River, 84.59
Dave Robinson,
Moorestown, 72.73
31. Connecticut, 309.92
Dwight Freeney,
Bloomfield, 84.03
Eugene Robinson,
Weaver (Hartford), 60.18
Bill Romanski,
Rockville (Vernon), 52.73
Steve Young,
Greenwich, 112.98
32. Iowa, 309.84
Roger Craig,
Davenport Central (Davenport), 77
Jay Hilgenberg,
Iowa City, 63.43
Kurt Warner, Regis, 88.78
Marshall Yanda,
Anamosa, 80.63
33. New Mexico, 292.04
Jim Everett,
Eldorado (Albuquerque), 37.53
Tommy McDonald,
Highland (Albuquerque), 55.03
Ralph Neely,
Farmington, 86.08
Brian Urlacher,
Lovington, 113.4
34. Missouri, 285.16
Steve Atwater,
Lutheran North (St. Louis), 93.85
Andy Russell,
Ladue Horton Watkins (St. Louis), 55.8
Justin Smith, Holts Summit, 56.78
Roger Wehrli,
King City, 78.73
35. Nebraska, 274.61
Pat Fischer,
Omaha Westside, 59.18
Ahman Green, Omaha Central (Omaha), 43.73
Gale Sayers,
Omaha Central (Omaha), 88.9
Mick Tingelhoff,
Lexington, 82.8
36. Colorado, 272.67
Dick Anderson,
Boulder, 73.53
Tony Boselli,
Fairview (Boulder), 85.33
Calais Campbell,
Denver South, 73.98
Vincent Jackson,
Widefield (Colorado Springs), 39.83
37. Utah, 246.98
Rulon Jones,
Weber (Pleasant View), 34.4
Jim McMahon,
Roy, 32.65
Haloti Ngata,
Highland (Salt Lake City), 64.03
Merlin Olsen,
Logan, 115.9
38. Maryland, 216.17Navorro Bowman,
Suitland (Forestville), 68.38
Mike Curtis, Montgomery, 54.93
Chuck Foreman,
Frederick, 47.83
39. South Dakota, 206.41
Ordell Braase,
Mitchell, 41.58
John Dutton,
Rapid City Central, 39.8
Chad Greenway,
Mt. Vernon, 32.33
40. Washington, 205.95
Drew Bledsoe,
Walla Walla, 54.89
Corey Dillon,
Franklin (Seattle), 51.93
James Hasty, Franklin, 46.55
Lawyer Milloy,
Lincoln (Tacoma), 52.58
41. Delaware, 203.03
Duron Harmon,
Caesar Rodney (Camden), 14.45
Luke Petitgout,
Sussex Central (Georgetown), 22.95
Steve Watson,
St. Mark's (Wilmington), 23.45
42. Hawaii, 170.95
Russ Francis,
Kailua, 42.67
Olin Kreutz,
St. Louis (Honolulu), 56.25
Dominic Raiola, St. Louis (Honolulu), 30.73
43. Nevada, 124.47
Steven Jackson,
Eldorado (Las Vegas), 46.14
DeMarco Murray,
Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 35.7
Ronnie Stanley, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 21.38
Kyle Van Noy,
McQueen (Reno), 21.25
44. Wyoming, 123.08
John Burrough,
Pinedale, 2.95
Boyd Dowler,
Central (Cheyenne), 70.35
Brett Keisel,
Greybull, 34.83
Brady Poppinga,
Evanston, 14.95
45. North Dakota, 122.72
Phil Hansen,
Oakes, 28.7
Jim Kleinsasser,
Carrington, 7.1
Pete Retzlaff,
Ellendale, 71.89
Carson Wentz,
Century (Bismarck), 15.03
46. Rhode Island, 107.16
Will Blackmon,
Bishop Hendricken (Warwick) , 11.03
Steve Furness, Bishop Hendricken (Warwick), 24.5
Gerry Philbin,
Tolman (Pawtucket), 34.63
Mark Van Eeghan,
Cranston West (Cranston), 37
47. New Hampshire, 104.63
Ryan Griffin,
Londonderry, 5.8
Greg Landry, Nashua, 34.08
Don Macek,
Manchester Central (Manchester), 37.8
Sherman White,
Portsmouth, 26.95
48. Alaska, 102.37
Zackary Bowman,
Bartlett (Anchorage), 5.08
Daryn Colledge,
North Pole, 28.98
Mark Schlereth,
Service (Anchorage), 45.13
Reggie Tongue,
Lathrop (Fairbanks), 23.18
49. Montana, 90.41
Pat Donovan,
Helena, 44.55
Michael Person,
Dawson (Glendive), 12.8
Mike Tilleman,
Chinook, 21.63
Corey Widmer,
Bozeman, 11.43
50. Maine, 0.5
Chet Bulger, Stevens, 0
Roger Ellis,
Westbrook, 0
John Huard,
Waterville, 0
Matthew Mulligan,
Penobscot Valley (Howland), 0.5
51. Vermont, 0.1
Kevin Hunt,
Burlington, 3.4
Herm Schmarr,
Vermont Academy (Saxtons River), 0
Robert Watts, Vermont Academy (Saxtons), 0
Bob Yates,
Montpelier, -3.3
